Late last year, as 2019 wound down, plans for 2020 were taking shape.  

It began at our first post-harvest meeting where everyone's fantasy wish list of ideas for making Pinicon safer, more productive, and less stressful were compiled. 

The axiom "money fixes everything" is a bit of an oversimplification, but frequently true. Most of our improvement's come with a hefty price tag.  

Selecting projects with the highest potential for lasting value is equal parts art and science. When you have a committee of decision makers, reaching consensus often requires lengthy debates, supporting data and compromise.

Luckily this year, there was wide agreement on priorities. With spring a few weeks away and field work soon to follow, our 2020 operating plan is completed.    

After the wet, bountiful harvest of 2019, we concluded increasing grain storage and drying capacity was necessary. 

This year we plan to build an offsite grain facility that will double our capacity to unload trucks and dry corn. As an additional bonus, because of its central location, the number of trucks needed to support a harvest crew will be reduced.    

The machinery purchase budget is minimal as our current fleet has sufficient capacity and reliability. A pair of fall tillage machines and a sprayer tip control system are the only planned upgrades. 

The new sprayer tip controls use GPS to shut off individual tips as the boom crosses headlands, waterways, and previously applied areas. Without this feature, an extra outline pass was required to ensure complete coverage. The increased productivity and resulting operating cost savings should recoup the cost of this purchase in two seasons.    

The 2020 crop plan is finalized. Manure on continuous corn is our most profitable crop so the number of farms in that category are increasing. With the balance of farms being rotated to soybeans, our overall crop mix will be 2/3 corn, 1/3 beans.    

Even though the radius of our footprint is shrinking, the area farmed within that circle gets larger. More work, less waste. 

The most promising initiative for 2020 is the Budget Plan. Bert and Alex spent several weeks estimating expense and income for the upcoming year based on past history. Their mission in 2020 is to manage company activities to keep expenses at or below budget while keeping income at or above. 

Never have we had a tool that provides this level of clarity and accountability to the management team.    

Of course, the biggest variable impacting our best laid plans this year is the weather. 

Maybe the Ground Hog got it right and we will see an early spring. 

Early or late, we will be ready.       

Jim